Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-10-23
LANHAM ON GREER COUNTY.
H9 Writes 80 the Prssidene Askirs Yssr, IN
Withhold His Proclamation.


Withhold His Proclamation,
:peclal to the Gazette.
WEATHERFORD, TEX, Oct. 2o.-Af.e7 ,eadir0
the proclamation recommended by Commits.
sioner Sparl regarding the disputed territory
OF Greer county, which was contalzed II. THE
GAH tt L OF this morning, TIRE GAZETTE cor
respondent called on Hon. S. W. T. Laphan To
ascertain, If possible, his views In regard IN the
scbon tn&t VIII be taken IN this question thaf
Is OF such vital Importance 10 the state of
texas. As is well known, Greer county Ia one
OF the richest counties in the state. Colonel
Lanhsn said OF course it is Un
but that ne feels sa!isfle1 that when
the President investis ates the matt r thoroueE-
" that he viii Withhold his proclamation
GoIorel Lsnham stated that he had written
President C!ev land letter 10 day PROTESTING.
against Ihe Executive procl nation recon-
mended 0y Comm issioner Sparks relative to-
Greer court y, and by the kindness OF Mr. Ian
ham, THE GAZETTE reporter detained a copy
OF the letter which will explain his position
SoPY or TIE LETTER TO THE President.
NFATHEEFORD, TEX Oct D. 1881.
The President:
/ notice IN toe morning Fort Worth G tzErrr,
dispatch from Washington toTthe effect that
Com .tssiCneTiSparks of the Generals 7 and
Once In letter to the Secretary OF the Interior
mas recommended that the President be re-
quested TO Issue an executive proclaim alton
warning all per7Ons whatsoever clsiming 10
actas officers of Greer county. Texas. or other
dispose of any of he lands west OF the North
Fork of Red river, in the southwestern pars OF
the iuoian Territory, sor attempting to exs rcise
any authority over the eams In c3Btrs-
ctclion OF the authority Of the United
States. This request IS made upOn IN
formation that certain persons claiming thst
the lands in question belong to the state of
Texas, have attempted to exercise jurisdiction
over tie game IS county officers OF The state of
Texas" Ibeg 20 submit that the
controversy between Texas a. the United
q roc IN Hl III 49,
ferrcd 10 is one of long standing Texas claim
ing that the boundary lire between Texas and
the 1ucian Territory is the north FORK OF Req
river, SID the United States claiming that rhe
souta fork Is The boundary line, This Cl9lm
has bsea asserted upon The part OF Texas for
many years with great eernestness ana confl-
dence, and by different executives Of the st5te.
GeEefdl sam houston, as Governor OF Texas,
believed anu held that the land lying between
the rivers mentioned belonged to
Texas. This opinion was subsequently
conc -rTeG IN b. tI.vein NOR Roberts (who de-
lvefed speaial message 20 the LEGISLATURE
upon the sal j-ot), ard also By Governor Ire
Land. The STATE Legislature created county
c)mpr,ei; the territory IN question SHOWN
and deetgn&tsd upon the maps of Texas IS
Greer codAtv. This county has been July
organized, with ali the machinery OF iurlsGic-
ton in fuH operation, and many people have in
good fsi' n, settled therein, relying upon the
little of Iexa and regarding II as an integral
portion OF the sta'e.
The Forty eighth Congress passed a law pro-
y
the part OF the United States TO cooperate win
comm issi0n on the part Of Texas for the Is
cerSatou enE of the boundary line IL disusite.
The respective com Missions UeF + az
pointed and made iAvestigat.on. The
law provided that tEe report of said com
mission should be r ade to TIE SecreEsry of the
Ihterior, and by MIN transmit ted to Congress.
see Laws Forty eighsh Congress, page 295. {
Ihfs report mas not rs yet been transmit -
congress, so fer ss am advised. The jurisdic5
ton now asserted by Texas over Greer county
is not essentially different from that which the
state ha exercised for several years, and l co
not believe there exists any necsssit7 fur
the action requested Of the President.
This brief statement as 20 the history and
status of the subject will, trust, be sufficient
10 suggest the DrOpriety and imSQrEsnae OF the
matter being held In abcyanST;9' y the Presi-
dent. As Repr sentative OF thu lgTessiopH
district II whlCh Greer county IS SIS h&T-
Tag bad rarJ n the federal legislation relating
thereto, and Doino, in q measure. familiar win
the 81 uatiOn, have considered 10 ny duty 20
request that the executive proclamation rec
ommer Gec by Com iissioner Spa KS be with
held. | nave tn hOLor 10 be, with great coz
hiderSsicn, your ODE -tent sesY want,
s. W. T. LANHAM.
II is a well kroTd f4ci that Colonel Lanham
has gwen thls question rUCh attention during
his service in Congss IS snd fully believes that
Texas IS eEtit Ell 70 the territory IN dispute,
ana hiS constituents III no dGUOt appreciate
his unti!tng eff rts ma faithful serv ,es 70 Sc
cure 20 them what he earnestly believes to be
their rights.